Districts and Divisions of Uttarakhand

Part of: Uttarakhand Polity Notes · See also: Uttarakhand GK

Uttarakhand districts list by division

Uttarakhand came into being on 9 November 2000 with 13 districts in two divisions. Moreover, the same 13 districts continue as on 29 October 2026. The table below also gives the number of development blocks in each district.

Division (HQ)	District	Blocks
Garhwal (Pauri)	Pauri Garhwal	15
Garhwal (Pauri)	Tehri Garhwal	9
Garhwal (Pauri)	Chamoli	9
Garhwal (Pauri)	Uttarkashi	6
Garhwal (Pauri)	Dehradun	6
Garhwal (Pauri)	Rudraprayag	3
Garhwal (Pauri)	Haridwar	6
Kumaon (Nainital)	Almora	11
Kumaon (Nainital)	Nainital	8
Kumaon (Nainital)	Pithoragarh	8
Kumaon (Nainital)	Udham Singh Nagar	7
Kumaon (Nainital)	Champawat	4
Kumaon (Nainital)	Bageshwar	3

Thus, Pauri Garhwal has the most blocks, with 15. Almora follows next with 11. In contrast, Bageshwar and Rudraprayag have only three blocks each.

Each block is also a Kshetra Panchayat. Thus, the block map doubles as the middle tier of Panchayati Raj in Uttarakhand.

Area, borders and the largest district

Item	Detail
Total area	53,483 sq km (about 1.69% of India)
Hill area	46,035 sq km (86.07%)
Plain area	7,448 sq km (13.93%)
Largest district	Chamoli — 8,030 sq km
Smallest district	Champawat — 1,766 sq km
International borders	China (Tibet) in the north; Nepal in the east
State borders	Himachal Pradesh (west and north-west); Uttar Pradesh (south); small contact with Haryana (south-west)

Thus, hills make up more than four-fifths of the State. Also, the largest district, Chamoli, lies in the Garhwal division. However, the tehsil count keeps changing, so always check the latest Revenue Department list.

Evolution of districts: from British rule to statehood

The present district map took shape slowly. In fact, the story runs from British Garhwal in 1839 to the new State in 2000.

Colonial era (1839–1891)

First, the British made Garhwal a separate district in 1839–1840. Its headquarters sat at Srinagar at first and then moved to Pauri. Later, in 1854, Nainital became the fixed headquarters of the Kumaon division.

Similarly, Dehradun became a separate district in 1871, within the Meerut division. Finally, in 1891, the old Kumaon district split into two districts, Almora and Nainital.

After Independence (1949–1975)

After Independence, Tehri Garhwal State merged with the Indian Union on 1 August 1949. As a result, Tehri became a district of UP under the Kumaon Commissioner.

Later, in 1960, three new districts came up: Uttarkashi from Tehri, Chamoli from Garhwal and Pithoragarh from Almora. Moreover, these three formed a new Uttarakhand division with its headquarters at Lucknow.

Next, on 1 December 1968, the Kumaon division split and a new Garhwal division began at Pauri. However, some district sources give 1969 for this step. Then, on 4 June 1975, Dehradun moved from the Meerut division to the Garhwal division.

New districts before statehood (1984–1997)

Meanwhile, Haridwar became a tehsil on 2 October 1984 and a district on 28 December 1988. However, it joined the Garhwal division only on 9 November 2000.

Next, Udham Singh Nagar came out of Nainital in 1995. The usual date is 30 September 1995; however, the district website says October 1995.

Then, in 1997, three more districts followed. Champawat (from Pithoragarh and Nainital) and Bageshwar (from Almora) came first, on 15 September 1997. Rudraprayag followed a day later, from parts of Chamoli, Tehri and Pauri.

Finally, Uttaranchal began on 9 November 2000 with these 13 districts. Thus, the Uttarakhand districts list of 2000 still holds (October 2026). Also, the Act and the capital question appear in formation of Uttarakhand.

Chronology table

Year	Event
1839–1840	British Garhwal made a separate district (HQ Srinagar, then Pauri)
1854	HQ of Kumaon division fixed at Nainital
1871	Dehradun made a separate district, in the Meerut division
1891	Kumaon district divided into Almora and Nainital districts
1 August 1949	Tehri Garhwal State merged with the Indian Union; Tehri became a UP district under the Kumaon Commissioner
1960	Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh carved out; new Uttarakhand division (HQ Lucknow)
1 December 1968	Kumaon division divided; new Garhwal division (HQ Pauri)
4 June 1975	Dehradun moved from Meerut division to Garhwal division
28 December 1988	Haridwar district created (tehsil from 2 October 1984)
1995	Udham Singh Nagar carved out of Nainital
15 September 1997	Champawat and Bageshwar created
16 September 1997	Rudraprayag created
9 November 2000	Uttaranchal formed with 13 districts in two divisions

KMVN and GMVN

The two divisions also give their names to two corporations. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) dates from 1971, while Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) dates from 31 March 1976. Today, both run tourist rest houses.

Proposed districts of 2011

In 2011, CM Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced four new districts. For example, Didihat and Ranikhet were on the list, along with Kotdwar and Yamunotri. However, the government never notified them, so Uttarakhand still has 13 districts (October 2026).

Where the district fits in administration

Each division has a Divisional Commissioner, at Pauri for Garhwal and at Nainital for Kumaon. Below the division, however, the District Magistrate (Jiladhikari) heads the district. Also, an SDM runs each sub-division, a Tehsildar each tehsil and a BDO each block.

Similarly, the full chain from Secretariat to tehsil appears in civil administration of Uttarakhand.

Exam corner: common traps

• Champawat and Bageshwar are in Kumaon, while Rudraprayag and Haridwar are in Garhwal.
• Dehradun sat in the Meerut division from 1871 until 4 June 1975; it did not start in Garhwal.
• Garhwal division date: the Revenue Department gives 1 December 1968; some district sources give 1969.
• The Uttarakhand division of 1960 had its headquarters at Lucknow; it is not the State formed in 2000.
• Rudrapur is a Nagar Nigam, not a district. Also, the State never notified the four districts announced in 2011.

In the news

• Six revenue portals: online khatauni and e-Bhulekh — land records such as certified Khatauni copies go online.
• One District One River in Uttarakhand — a river initiative that again uses the district as its unit.

Practise Uttarakhand Polity

• Daily 25 free practice questions — UKPSC previous-year questions, every morning.
• UKPSC previous year papers — bilingual PDFs of Upper PCS, Lower PCS, RO/ARO and more.
• UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series — full-length tests with detailed solutions.

Preparing for UKPSC Upper PCS, Lower PCS or RO/ARO? Join SAMVEG IAS, Dehradun. For batch details, call or WhatsApp +91 84759 04943.

Frequently Asked Questions

Facts as on 29 October 2026. Sources: Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) Uttarakhand, High Court of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Election Commission of India, State departments, India Code and PIB.